Open AccessLinear extrachromosomal DNA of Thiobacillus cuprinus DSM 5495 in relation to its chemolithotrophic growth
Author(s) -
Marin Irma,
Amils Ricardo,
Abad JoséP.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1995.tb07917.x
Subject(s) - extrachromosomal dna , dna , biology , bacteria , facultative , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , genomic dna , genetics , plasmid , botany
For the first time a relationship has been established between the presence of extrachromosomal DNA and the capability of a microorganism to grow chemolithotrophically on mineral substrates. Using pulsed field gel electrophoresis, we have studied the genomic organization of Thiobacillus cuprinus , a facultative chemolithotrophic bacterium. Intact total DNA from chemolithotrophically grown cells shows a lineal extrachromosomal element of approximately 50 kb that is not present in cells grown under heterotrophic conditions. The specific appearance of this DNA only in the chemolithotrophic mode of growth opens up the possibility of identifying genes associated with bioleaching.